Reservoir with handle

ABSTRACT

Provided is a reservoir ( 120 ) of a dehumidifier ( 100 ) comprising an enclosure ( 121 ) defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier ( 100 ) to define a guide path ( 140 );and a handle ( 130 ) engaged with the reservoir ( 120 ). The handle ( 130 ) comprises a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user. The handle ( 130 ) is rotatably movable relative to the reservoir ( 120 ) between a first position and a second position. In the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand. In the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

The present subject matter relates to a small appliance. More specifically the present subject matter relates to a reservoir adapted for use with a dehumidifier.

A dehumidifier is an apparatus adapted to condition the air by reducing the level of humidity in the air. A dehumidifier reduces the level of humidity in the air by extracting water vapor from the air. The extracted water vapor may be condensed into liquid water and stored in a reservoir of the dehumidifier for subsequent disposal or other removal.

The liquid water stored in the reservoir may be disposed of by removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier and transporting the water within the reservoir to a disposal site. It is sometimes desirable to store a large quantity of water in the reservoir to allow long duty cycles between the times when the reservoir is full and must be emptied before further dehumidifier operation. It is sometimes desirable to make the reservoir with the water stored therein easy to transport from the dehumidifier to the disposal site. It remains desirable to provide a way to transport larger amounts of water without making transportation of the water and reservoir difficult.

It remains desirable to provide a handle for a reservoir of a dehumidifier adapted to position, remove, and replace the reservoir in the dehumidifier and also adapted to provide ergonomic means to carry the reservoir.

Provided is a reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and a handle engaged with the reservoir. The handle comprises a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user. The handle is movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position. In the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand. In the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which particular embodiments and further benefits of the subject matter are illustrated as described in more detail in the description below, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a dehumidifier and associated components. FIG. 1a and FIG 1b are perspective views showing an embodiment of a dehumidifier and associated components.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially withdrawn from the dehumidifier with the handle in a position intermediate to the horizontal and vertical positions.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially withdrawn from the dehumidifier with the handle in the horizontal position.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing the reservoir partially withdrawn from the dehumidifier with the handle in a substantially vertical position.

FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b are perspective views showing the reservoir of a dehumidifier with the handle. FIG. 5c is a rear perspective view showing the reservoir of a dehumidifier without the handle.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the handle for a dehumidifier reservoir of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a reservoir 120 of a dehumidifier 100 that comprises 1) an enclosure 121 defining an interior region 124 and an exterior region 122; (2) a first guide surface (not shown) operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface (not shown) of the dehumidifier 100 to define a guide path 140; and (3) a handle 130 engaged with the reservoir 120. The handle 130 may comprise a grasping surface 132 adapted for being grasped by a hand 82 of a user 80; and may be movable relative to the reservoir 120 between a first position and a second position. In the first position the handle 130 may be positioned to provide means for a user 80 to ergonomically draw the reservoir 120 along the guide path 140 by hand 82. In the second position, the handle 130 may be positioned to provide means for a user 80 to ergonomically carry the reservoir 120 by hand 82.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, shown is a first non-limiting embodiment of a dehumidifier 100. The dehumidifier 100 comprises a reservoir 120. The reservoir 120 is adapted to accept and store liquid water (not shown) produced by the dehumidifier 100 as it operates to remove humidity from the air 90. The reservoir 120 stores the liquid water (not shown) in the enclosure 121. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the reservoir 120 stores the water in the interior region 124 of the enclosure 121. The interior region 124 is in fluid communication with the exterior region 122 through a first aperture 126. Liquid water (not shown) may be introduced into the interior region 124 from the exterior region 122 through the first aperture 126. In some embodiments, during operation, liquid water condensed or otherwise produced by the dehumidifier 100 as it operates to remove humidity from the air 90 may drip or pour through the first aperture 126 and into the interior region 124 of reservoir 120 where it may be stored.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, some or all of the stored liquid water (not shown) may be occasionally disposed of by a user 80. The reservoir 120 is adapted for removal from the dehumidifier 100. Because the reservoir 120 is adapted for removal from the dehumidifier 100, water stored in the reservoir 120 may be transported, while still in the reservoir 120, from the dehumidifier 100, and disposed of at a disposal site (not shown). A disposal site may be a conventional drain (not shown) or other site chosen with good engineering judgment. The provided subject matter is adapted to provide an ergonomic means for removal and transportation of the reservoir 120 by a hand 82 of a user 80.

The handle 130 is engaged with the reservoir 120 such that it may be movable with respect to the reservoir 120. In the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the handle 130 is free to rotate with respect to the reservoir 120 when the reservoir 120 is not in the fully installed position within the dehumidifier 100.

In FIGS. 1 and 1 a, the reservoir 120 is shown in the fully installed position within the dehumidifier 100. In the embodiment and position shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, the reservoir 120 is fully inserted into the dehumidifier 100 and the handle 130 is partially shrouded or otherwise enclosed between the dehumidifier 100 and the reservoir 120 in such a way that the handle 130 is not free to rotate with respect to the reservoir 120. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the reservoir 120 may be removed from the dehumidifier 100 by drawing it out in a drawer-like manner along a guide path 140 generally indicated by the bi-directional arrow shown. The arrow indicating guide path 140 is bi-directional because the reservoir may be removed or replaced by drawing it out or pushing it in along the guide path 140 generally indicated by the bi-directional arrow. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the mechanical action of drawing an object along a path, that is, to draw an object along a path, comprises both pushing and pulling actions. While the guide path shown in FIGS. 1b and 2 is linear, it is contemplated that the guide path 140 need not be linear in other embodiments; there are curvilinear paths that may also be acceptable. The guide path 140 may be defined by a first guide surface (not shown) of the reservoir 120 being operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface (not shown) of the dehumidifier 100. In certain embodiments, the first guide surface (not shown) may be engaged with the exterior region 122 of the reservoir 120. In certain embodiments, the first guide surface (not shown) and first counterpart surface may (not shown) be any conventional components adapted to establish a guide path. In certain embodiments, the first guide surface (not shown) and first counterpart surface may be the components of a conventional drawer slide, or a track and follower combination, or a set of surfaces adapted to slide over one another. In certain embodiments, the components adapted to establish guide path 140 may further comprise one or more of a roller, a wheel, a bearing, or a lubricant.

In FIG. 1, the handle 130 is in a first position. In the first position, handle 130 is positioned to provide means for a user 80 grasp the handle 130 by a hand 82 and to ergonomically draw the reservoir 120 along the guide path 140. That is, in FIG. 1, in the first position, the handle 130 is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir 120 into or out of the dehumidifier 100. The handle 130 comprises may comprise a set of surfaces 132 adapted for ergonomic engagement with the hand 82 of, and use by, a user 80. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, in some embodiments the handle 130 may comprise one or more grasping surfaces 132. A grasping surface 132 is adapted for being grasped by the hand 82 of a user 80. A grasping surface 132 may comprise grasping features 134 adapted to facilitate grasping, gripping, or other purchase on the grasping surface by the hand 82 of a user 80. In some embodiments, grasping features 134 adapted to facilitate grasping, gripping, or other purchase on the grasping surface 132 by the hand 82 of a user 80 may comprise knurling, indentations, grooves, roughly textured elastomer, padding, or other similarly functional surface treatment. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in some embodiments the handle 130 may comprise one or more pushing surfaces 136. A pushing surface 136 is adapted for being grasped or pushed by the hand 82 of a user 80.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, as the reservoir 120 is withdrawn from the dehumidifier 100 along the guide path 140, the handle 130 is exposed and may be rotated relative to the reservoir 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 130 is positioned so that the grasping surface 132 may be readily grasped or otherwise engaged by the hand 82 of a user 80 and is oriented such that the grasping surface 132 is substantially normal to the guide path 140 such that the work applied by the user 80 in removing the reservoir 120 is used efficiently in order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility. At or before the point at which the reservoir 120 is fully withdrawn from the dehumidifier 100, the handle 130 may be rotated into a second position. It is contemplated that, in other embodiments, the motion of the handle 130 from the first position to the second position may involve translation or rotation or both. In FIG. 4, the handle 130 is shown in the second position. As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir 120. Transport of the reservoir 120 may be performed, at least in part, by a user grasping part of the reservoir 120 and carrying the reservoir 120. As shown in FIG. 4, the handle 130 is positioned so that the grasping surface 132 may be readily grasped by a user 80 and is oriented such that the grasping surface 132 is substantially normal to the direction of gravity such that the work applied by the user 80 in lifting and carrying the reservoir in transporting it is used efficiently in order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 130 is positioned so that the pushing surface 136 may be readily pushed by a user 80 and is oriented such that the pushing surface 136 is substantially normal to the guide path 140 such that the work applied by the user 80 in replacing the reservoir 120 is used efficiently in order to avoid undesirable stress and provide desirable ergonomic utility.

This bucket handle improves over the prior art as it allows a single handle for conveniently removing the bucket from the dehumidifier and carrying the bucket without a substantial number of additional parts or steps.

Without limitation, when the non limiting embodiment of a dehumidifier 100 shown in FIGS. 1-4 is in operation the reservoir 120 is fully installed into and is operationally engaged with the dehumidifier 100. As the dehumidifier operates to remove humidity from the air 90 liquid water (not shown) is produced and is stored in the interior region 124 of the enclosure 121.

It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made to the present subject matter without departing from the principles of the present subject matter. These and other modifications in the nature of the present subject matter or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the present subject matter and not as a limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising: an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, being movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and in the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand.
 2. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture.
 3. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein the reservoir may be removed from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path.
 4. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 3, wherein the reservoir may be replaced into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path.
 5. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 4, wherein the first guide surface is engaged with the exterior region.
 6. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein the handle is movable between a first position and a second position by rotation relative to the reservoir, at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier.
 7. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein, in the second position, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir.
 8. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 6, wherein, in the first position, the handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier.
 9. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 8, wherein, in the first position, when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, the handle is at least partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir.
 10. The reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 9, wherein the guide path is substantially linear.
 11. A method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising: providing a dehumidifier; providing a reservoir adapted for operational engagement with said dehumidifier, said reservoir comprising an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a guide path; and a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, being movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and in the second position, the handle is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand; and either, a) installing the reservoir into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path, and moving the handle from a position intermediate to the first position and the second position to the first position, or b) removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path, and moving the handle from the first position to a position intermediate to the first position and the second position.
 12. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 11, wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture.
 13. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 12, wherein the first guide surface is engaged with the exterior region.
 14. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 13, wherein the handle is movable between a first position and a second position by rotation relative to the reservoir, at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier.
 15. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 14, wherein, in the second position, the handle extends upwardly from the reservoir.
 16. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 14, wherein, in the first position, the handle is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier.
 17. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 16, wherein, in the first position, when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, the handle is at least partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir.
 18. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 17, wherein the guide path is substantially linear.
 19. The method of using a reservoir of a dehumidifier of claim 17, comprising removing the reservoir from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path; moving the handle from the first position to the second position; carrying the reservoir by the handle to a disposal site; and disposing of liquid water from the reservoir.
 20. A reservoir of a dehumidifier comprising: an enclosure defining an interior region and an exterior region, wherein the interior region is in fluid communication with the exterior region through a first aperture; a first guide surface operatively engaged with a first counterpart surface of the dehumidifier to define a substantially linear guide path, and engaged with the exterior region; a handle engaged with the reservoir, the handle comprising a grasping surface adapted for being grasped by a hand of a user, being rotatably movable relative to the reservoir between a first position and a second position at least when the reservoir is not fully inserted into the dehumidifier, wherein, in the first position the handle, is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically draw the reservoir along the guide path by hand, and is adapted to function as a drawer-type handle for drawing the reservoir into or out of the dehumidifier, and when the reservoir is fully inserted into the dehumidifier, is at least partially shrouded so as to be fixed from rotation relative to the reservoir, in the second position the handle, is positioned to provide means for a user to ergonomically carry the reservoir by hand, and extends upwardly from the reservoir; and wherein the reservoir may be removed from the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path; and wherein the reservoir may be replaced into the dehumidifier by drawing the reservoir along the guide path. 